Transient Charged In Series Of Attacks On Cta Commuters

November 10, 1999

NORTH SIDE — Chicago police on Tuesday charged a man with several counts of armed robbery for his alleged involvement in eight crimes that targeted Hispanics and primarily occurred on Chicago Transit Authority trains on the North Side.

Juan Rodriguez, 26, who police said is a transient, was arrested Monday night as he rode a bus after a police officer spotted a prominent scar along the side of his neck, a feature that had been described by victims, police said.

"That scar is quite outstanding," said Chicago Police Cmdr. John Sullivan of the Mass Transit Unit.

"He was the only person on the bus (besides the driver)," said Officer Tim Monahan, who ordered Rodriguez off the Western Avenue bus at Congress Parkway. "I could see the scar as soon as I walked on."

The robberies occurred on the northbound Howard line and began in May, said Cmdr. William Hayes of the Belmont Area Violent Crimes Detective Division. No one was injured.

Police were seeking an accomplice, Hayes said.

"It's a relief that he's off the system," Monahan said. "It makes the system safer."